Radiator-front cover



bec. 4, 192s.

M. SWITZER RADIATOR FRONT'COVER Filed June 5, 1927 umm-.m magnum-vn Patented Bec. 4l, i923.

UN ITE D ST@ ra o taza'r Afl-Slaves To e Scarves 0e new RADATOR-FRONT COVER. i

Application filed June 3,

This invention comprises certain improvements to automobile radiator front covers of the type that may be selectively positioned to expose any desired area the radiator dependent upon weather conditions, whereby the temperature of the engine may be controlled within reasonable limits.

The particular embodiment of this invention represents that simple and inexpensive type of cove-r which may be manually adjusted locally by direct manipulation, as contrasted with the more elaborate mechanisms capable of being regulated from the drivers station.

0f the many different makes and types of cars, it is well recognized that few if any have identical radiator front contours. Vhile the radiator cores may be identical in several, yet the overlapping ornamental radiator shells are almost without exception fashioned to different front end contoursin the interest of attaining distinction of appearance. This lack of uniformity in contour renders the problem of designing a simple and inexpensive standard size cover t-o fit a considerable number of different car fronts extremely ditlicult.

ln order that covers of the subject type of this invent-ion may be made to sell at the low price that must be charged in order that any considerable. market can be established, several essential requirements must be complied with:

The contrivance must be efficient and serviceable; the manufacturing cost must be low. requiring that a standard design and size be adopted for use on a number of different makes of cars, thereby permitting quantity production of cover assemblies to one specification; the number of different sizes to be stocked by the dealers to equip different cars must be reduced to the minimum ,the cover must present a sightly appearance when installed on different types of car fronts; and finally, due to the different types of radiators and the local availability of places for attaching the covers thereto, the` attaching means must be flexible enough to adaptthemselves to the varying conditions and be of such character that attachment and removal can be effected without special preparation, and by the ordinary owner without special tools.

Being cognizantof the state of the art and of the several requirements above st-ated,

1927. Serial No. 196,274.

it has become the principal object of this invention to devise an improved manual-ly operated cover that will be efficient in 'operation; durable and siglitly;l economical to manufacture; adaptable to car fronts of different contours without alteration; and be provided withy universally adjustable attching means to meet different attaching problems. These and other objects are. more fully developed throughout the following discussions and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l-represents a typical front view of a. radiator'showing the supporting frame for the cover attached; the cover being omitted.

Figure Q-represents typical front view with the cover completely closed.l

Figure Sere-presents a perspective view showing the, cover partially open; but capable of being still farther collapsed.

Figure Ll-illustrateS 2L typical attaching bojlt adapted to penetrate the radiator core and space the cover fra-me from the tace of the core through the medium of the thick washer.

Figure -Villustrates a fragmental view of the sliding connection of a cross reinforcing wire with a. side member of t-he fixed frame.

Figure `G-eillustrates an appropriate clamp screw` for securing the cover near its top edges to the side members of the frame.

The cover supporting frame is'so fashioned that it may be attached to radiators of various contours without alterations or special attaching appliances. The preferred design calls for a stout metallic frame that is attached directly to the face of the core by slender bolts that pass completely through and are secured thereto by suitable washers and nuts on the rear surface. It is preferred that the cover be extensive enough to completely overlay the face of the core and eX- tend slight-ly over the inside margins 'of the co-re shell as particularly shown on FigureQ.

The frame' may be variously shaped and fabricated to s uit the individual designer7s ideas, but the preferred form is shown as a unitary element comprising similar parallel side bars 13 extending vertically above the level of the horizontal top bar 14 by resorting to upwardly directed loops 12 these eX- tension loops enable the cover 16 to be eX- tended above and hide the top bar 13 and its attaching bolts, as Well as more effectively to cover the entire exposed area of the core. The bottom horizontal bar completes the rectangular assembly. The frame may be bent to iinal shape after the various sliding elements, .as 20, 21 and 25, are assembled thereon; and its ends suitably united, if desired.

As certain types of radiator fronts are formed at their tops to an arch-like effect as defined by the contour of the inside mai-gi of the shell, it becomes desirable to 'provide that the cover 16 shall extend vertically high enough to completely cover t-he core even Ythough the cover overlap a portion of the shell.' The upward loops 12 permit of this object, and the spacer washers' 22, on the outer surface of the core and carried on bolts 21, tend to hold the frame away from the core face far enough to permit the outer edges of the co er 16 to overlap the shell margins without undue binding.

The bottom bar 15 of the frame is preferably close to the lower edge of the core, and to this member the cover 16 may be stitched or suitably fastened, as at 26.

n VAttaching bolts 21 are shown slidably affixed preferably on' the top and bottom bars 14 and 15 and are preferably arranged to permit of a considerably lateral adjustment in order that they may be inserted through available areas of the core. This feature not only permits bolt adjustments to find a suitable cell in the core for penetration, but also allows the selection of a favorable location to avoid some obstruction back of the core, as an engine part, water outlet, or the like. The cover stitching 26 on the lower bar 15 is purposely interrupted adjacent the bolts to allow for their adjustment.

The cover is preferably reinforced by a series of suitably attached or stitched-in members Y17, preferably ofv stout wire provided with eyes near their extremities and slidably associated with the respective side bars 13. The upper and lower edges of the curtain 16 are preferably sewed over stifl'ening rods 18 and 19 to prevent their becoming distorted and frayed.

In order that the cover# may be securely locked in various vertical positions to attain the desired temperature control ofthe engine, there is provided near each upper corner' of the cover a clamp bolt 23; one end of which is nonrotatably secured to a sliding guide clamp 25 on a side bar 13, the outwardly extending shank of the bolt being threaded to accommodate a suitable threaded nut 24. (See Figure 6.) Obviously, the position of the top edge of the cover may be positioned and secured at will by this contrivance. f

The operation of the cover is illustrated by Figure 3, wherein it is noted that the partially down position shows how the excess flexible material assumes Vneat and orderly folds `as controlled by the cross reinforcing members that freely slide on the side bars.

The extreme top position of the cover is shown by Figure 2, wherein attention is directed to the function of 'the loops 12, permitting the cover to rise well above the top bar 14 and fully overlay the projected front area of the radiator core. y

The material of the cover 16 is preferably of flexible water-proofed fabric of suitable type. The use of the term flexible is sufficiently embracive to include a cover cons structed of 'stiff panels between the several cross members l? but adapted to hinge or fold about the natural divisions made in the vertical extent of the cover bythe said transversing members, and also to hinge through a horizontal line intermediate of and parallel to 4these cross members 17. rilhe basic term flexible implying the capacity of the front cover to assume folds parallel to the sliding cross reinforcing bars 17 when the cover is in process of being compressed.

lt is obvious that many variations in the preferred embodiment may be availed of by those skilled in the art to accomplish the purpose of this' disclosure, therefore it is not intended that the casual illustrations of a preferred structure shall constitute limitations except as specifically claimed. For instance, my invention is capable of being adapted to an arrangement whereby the cover could be fixed at the top and the moving edge be directed for downward movement to shield the face of the radiator. Or, the fixed edge could be at either vertical margin of the radiator and the adjustment bev made by drawing the free edge horizontally across the front area of the radiator.

I claim 1. .The combination with an automobile radiator, of a cover support, comprising; a rectangular frame having parallel rodsnpon which la cover may be sildably mounted; cross members joining said rods, said parallel rods extending beyond one of said cross memers whereby the leading edge of a cover sliding thereon may be extended over said cross member without interference.

2. An automobile radiator cover support, comprising a rectangular frame characterized by parallel marginal cover attaching rods, an end of each of which is looped downwardly to form a cross connection therebetween, a second cross connection joining the opposite extremities of said rods, and slidably adjustable attaching bolts on a plurality of said cross connections.

In testimonyy whereof l vaflix my signature.

MAURICE SWITZER: 

